Environment

The Region of Waterloo is committed to embracing environmental considerations in all of its decisions. Clean air, water, land, green spaces and sensitive environmental features are important to ensuring Waterloo Region stays healthy, sustainable and liveable.

As an organization the Region is committed to reducing its environmental footprint as well as enabling residents and businesses to do the same with its programs and services.Some of these programs and services include:

Applications are now being accepted for the Community Environmental Fund 2015

The Community Environmental Fund (CEF) supports community-based environmental initiatives. The CEF assists community members and organizations to carry out projects that protect, promote, and enhance our natural environment.

The Region of Waterloo will help fund projects that benefit
the community by protecting and enhancing our natural environment.

Community Forum: A Land Trust for Waterloo Region?

A Community Forum to explore creating a conservation land trust in our community.

The Region of Waterloo is hosting a community forum for individuals and organizations interested in exploring the possibility of establishing a community-based conservation land trust within the region.

A land trust is a non-profit registered charity which can hold land or conservation easements on significant natural or cultural heritage properties. Several are now in operation across Ontario.

The Region of Waterloo's Land Trust forum was held in October 2014 and was a great success. We look forward to following-up on the ideas discussed at the forum.

Speakers included at this event:

Deborah Thompson, the newly appointed Executive Director of the Ontario Land Trust Alliance

Bernie VanDenBelt, a long-time member of the Thames Talbot Land Trust

Stephanie Sobek-Swant, Executive Director of the rare Charitable Research Reserve

Matt Setzkorn, Ontario Farmland Trust

Robert Orland, Orland Conservation

For background information on this initiative, please review the attached report.

Our Progress

Communicating our progress: On-line public reporting software

As part of our commitment to greener choices, we are significantly reducing the number of printed materials to report on the progress of our Region of Waterloo Environmental Sustainability Strategy.

An on-line tool has been developed for monitoring and communicating progress on the Region's commitment to Environmental Sustainability Strategy. The web-based tool provides detailed and summary information about each of the actions in written and graphic formats (where available) illustrating progress made towards our Strategic Objectives and Focus Areas.